Reaching more than 5 million clients, this is the most extensive roll-out of fingerprint biometric technology by any international bank and a first in most markets.

Standard Chartered’s clients in 15 markets across Asia, Africa and the Middle East will soon be able to access the Bank’s mobile banking services on smartphones and iPads with the touch of a finger. With «touch login» (pictured below), clients can instantly access their bank account balances, cards and investments on the go using the secure fingerprint recognition technology built into these devices, according to a press release sent on Monday.

Already live in Singapore, the UAE and India, touch login will launch in China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, Pakistan and the African markets of Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe by the end of 2016, depending upon regulatory approval being obtained where required.

Fingerprint and Voice Biometric Technology

The U.K. bank with a strong foothold in Asia will also introduce voice biometric technology for phone banking services for clients in India and the UAE by end of this year, before rolling it out in more markets next year, subject to regulatory approvals.

Standard Chartered’s voice biometric technology captures the physical and behavioural characteristics of clients’ voices, which are as unique as fingerprints, due to the size and shape of one’s vocal tract, mouth and teeth, as well as accent and speaking rhythm. When clients call the bank’s contact centres, their identities will be authenticated through their unique voice prints for a safer and more secure phone banking experience.

Convenient And Secure Banking

«Fingerprint and voice biometric technologies give our clients more convenience and security when they want to access their bank balances, cards and investments, wherever they are and whenever they want. We’re bringing the latest digital technologies to all our markets so that we can offer easy, convenient and secure banking to our clients,» Karen Fawcett, Standard Chartered’s CEO of Retail Banking, said.